Seeking Clarity: Families Challenge Cuomo’s COVID Legacy and the Olson Group’s Report

November 26, 2024

In a heartfelt quest for truth, families of COVID-19 victims from New York’s nursing homes are confronting both the state and the Olson Group, a Virginia-based firm that produced a controversial report on the state’s pandemic response. Four years after the devastating losses, the pain remains fresh for many, as they dispute claims made in the report, which they say contains numerous errors and asserts false claims regarding state audits and decisions during the pandemic.

The heart of the controversy lies in a 2020 directive by former Governor Andrew M. Cuomo that mandated nursing homes to accept residents who tested positive for the virus, a decision that many believe contributed significantly to the high death toll among nursing home residents. Families, led by individuals like Peter Arbeeny, whose father succumbed to the virus in a nursing home, are not only challenging the report’s findings but are also battling against a nondisclosure agreement that the Olson Group had to sign, limiting their ability to speak publicly about the report.

These families have repeatedly sought to engage with Kyle B. Olson, president of the Olson Group, to discuss the report and share their grievances, hoping to uncover more about the decisions that led to their tragic losses. They argue that the gag order does not prevent Olson from meeting with them, yet their requests for a dialogue have gone unanswered.

This ongoing struggle highlights the broader issues of accountability and transparency in handling the pandemic, sparking calls for further investigation and a potential special commission to analyze the state’s coronavirus response comprehensively.

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